NRDC China Environmental News Alert
Posted April 30, 2009 in Greening China
NRDC has been working in China for over twelve years on such issues as energy efficiency, green buildings, clean energy technologies, environmental governance and public participation, and green supply chain issues. This China Environmental News Alert is a weekly compilation of news from around the world on China and the environment.
April 25, 2009 - April 30, 2009
China relaxes business regulations
Environmental, copyright and labor advocates worry as China loosens business regulations to encourage foreign investment amid the economic downturn. In recent months, government bodies around the country have been fast-tracking the environmental approval process and loosening rules protecting workers and intellectual property.
Los Angeles Times (April 29, 2009)
An NRDC Greenlaw post outlines a Caijing report (Chinese only) on the Supreme People's Court (SPC) plan to release a judicial interpretation on the adjudication of open government information cases this year.
Greenlaw (April 30, 2009)
Refusal to name polluters in Heilongjiang causes uproar amongst journalists
The Heilongjiang provincial government refused to release the names of companies that continue to violate pollution laws, arguing that the information is confidential. The Sina news portal in response has a story (Chinese only) in which the author argues that the move is contrary to the public's "right to information and right to supervision."
China News Wrap (April 21, 2009)
Local govts may ignore standards
The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment, a top advisory council for the central government, warned of further ecological degradation due to local governments ignoring environmental standards as they implement the government stimulus plan, The council said that even some well-established systems have already been brushed aside by local governments as they focus on creating more jobs.
China Daily (April 27, 2009)
China has world's fastest growing wind power capacity
The Global Wind Energy Council says that China will add more wind power capacity this year than any other country. China could add 10 gigawatts of addition capacity this year, compared with 8.5 in the United States.
Business Week (April 28, 2009)
China energy efficiency improves in Q1: govt
The Chinese government reported Wednesday that it has cut average energy consumption by 2.9 percent on year in the first quarter. However, total energy consumption increased by 3 percent as the economy continued to grow at a substantial rate despite the global downturn.
AFP (April 29, 2009)
Clinton: Want growth? Save the climate
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is using a new strategy to encourage China and other developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that curbing emissions is essential for sustained growth in today's economic and energy environment.
Wall Street Journal (April 28, 2009)
A new joint British-Chinese study outlined four pathways for China to move towards a low-carbon future without lessening its economic growth. Among the prescriptions in the report are improving energy efficiency, investing in renewable energy, and structural changes such as increasing the service sector.
Nature (April 28, 2009)
Huntsman, guvs to visit China for climate talks
A group of governors from the Western United States will visit China on a government exchange to discuss the country's clean energy developments. The group plans to meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao or Vice Premier Li Keqiang and will discuss topics including the development of clean technologies, renewable energy, carbon capture technology, and climate science.
Salt Lake Tribune (April 29, 2009)
China allocates $3.4 bln on energy saving, ecological projects
Senior NDRC official Han Yongwen announced Wednesday that China has allocated 24 billion yuan (3.37 billion US dollars) for energy saving, anti-pollution, ecological and environmental protection projects since last year's fourth quarter.
Xinhua (April 30, 2009)
Disabilities in China's polluted Shanxi
China's notoriously polluted Shanxi province has birth defects six times higher than the national average, stoking concern about the health effects of the air in one of the world's most polluted regions. Still, many doctors in Shanxi are skeptical about the role pollution has on birth defects and attribute the abnormalities to malnutrition.
BBC (April 24, 2009)
Chinese Vice Premier says recycling can help boost economic growth
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang recently advocated for China to increase recycling efforts to improve China's resource use and protect the environment. Li stressed technological progress and innovation, as well as increased investment, as key to support the development of the recycling industry.
Xinhua (April 25, 2009)
Editorial: Hazy car culture erodes green Earth
Although Earth Day received little media coverage in China, the Shanghai auto show "ignited a public frenzy." China's burgeoning car culture threatens to keep the country's cities shrouded in pollution haze.
China Daily (April 25, 2009)
China calls for green-technology transfer
Su Wei, China's top climate negotiator said yesterday that developed countries should actively promote clean technology transfer to help developing nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The statement came as Su Wei expressed disappointment that technology transfer was not mentioned during the first preparatory session of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate.
China Daily (April 29, 2009)
Official: Low birth rate feared for wild pandas in quake zone
Officials at the Wolong nature reserve are worried that earthquake damage to wild panda habitats will significantly affect the species' breeding. Much of the region's bamboo plants were destroyed in the quake, making it difficult for wild pandas to find food.
Xinhua (April 24, 2009)
Liaoning Province seeking clear air
Liaoning province has improved its air quality in recent years, registering 26 more days with good air quality than in 2005. Director of the provincial environmental protection bureau Wang Bingjie said that Liaoning needs to move quicker than the country as a whole in reducing pollution due to their "historical environmental debt."
China Daily (April 27, 2009)
China Greenpeace opens online shop on Taobao
Greenpeace has begun selling products on Taobao, China's version of eBay. The organization says it is not interested in making money, but rather wants to give Greenpeace supporters access to their products, such as t-shirts, chopsticks, and shopping bags.
China.org.cn (April 27, 2009)
Transplanted trees receive 'intravenous drip' in NW China
The survival rate of more than 16,000 transplanted trees in Shaanxi Province reached 98 percent due to an "intravenous drip" designed to give trees extra nutrition and protection. The trees have been outfitted with hanging plastic bags or glass bottles filled with nutrition ingredients or pesticides, likening them to hospital patients.
Xinhua (April 24, 2009)
(CENA prepared by Jason Portner)
See our bilingual (English and Chinese) blog dedicated to discussion of China's environmental law, policy and public participation at http://www.greenlaw.org.cn.
